Remarks of MP Mann are condemnable and he should apologise at once: Minister Meet Hayer

Lashing out at Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) president and Sangrur MP Simranjit Singh Mann for calling legendary Freedom fighter and martyr Shaheed Bhagat Singh a 'terrorist', Minister for higher education and languages Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer on Friday demanded an unconditional apology from MP Mann for his slanderous remarks. Addressing a press conference at Punjab Bhawan here, the Minister also announced that the state government would bestow martyr status on Bhagat Singh for his supreme sacrifice. "Our Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, being an MP, had raised this issue several times in the Parliament also. Bhagat Singh is our idol and I want to make it clear with full responsibility that the Punjab government will bestow martyr status to Bhagat Singh," Hayer said while replying to a media query.

He said that the statement of Mr Simranjit Singh Mann MP, is shameful. A newly elected MP has disrespected the sacrifices of legendary martyr Shaheed Bhagat Singh, who laid down his life for the independence of the country. He said, "Not only Punjab but the whole nation is proud of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev for sacrificing their lives at a very young age for the country. Indians are able to breathe in a free nation because these men sacrificed their present for our future. But MP Mann regrettably does not respect a national hero. ” The Cabinet minister said that Aam Aadmi Party is a democratic party and if required his party would initiate legal action against MP Mann, as per the law, for disrespecting martyr Bhagat Singh and hurting the sentiments of countless Punjabis who hold him in high regard. Among others MLA Jalalabad Jagdeep Kamboj Goldy, MLA Dharamkot Devinder Singh Dhos and party chief spokesperson Malwimder Kang were present on the occasion.